บท 98: Get it on moving

*Today there was not gonna be any chapter however, since one of you voted me a golden ticket I Have decided to write it. Now for every three reviews there is gonna be an extra chapter, so please comment.

Big thanks to Oreoluwa_Ayuba for the golden ticket, you warm my heart, my reader.

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After being tasked with alerting the other troops of the rebellion and ordering them to march together as a single army to Naples, Godfrey excused himself from his lord and retreated to his room, where he was to write the letter as commanded by Count Bernart.

*To all the nobles faithful to his majesty Charles I, his majesty's country is at risk, for the treacherous people of Sicily rose against their legal ruler to assist the devil's offspring. You have been ordered to defend his majesty's realm; as such, you are to bring King Charles I's army to the capital, Naples, from which we will march to put an end to this unlawful revolt. May the Lord bless our quest, for we bring order into chaos, and may our swords fall on the necks of those treacherous rebels. We shall not falter in our duty to restore peace and stability to his majesty's kingdom. Let it be known that we stand united against the forces of anarchy and rebellion, determined to uphold the rightful authority of King Charles I. With our unwavering loyalty and the might of his majesty's army, we shall crush this insurrection and ensure that justice prevails.

Count Bernant of Baux, general appointed by the kind of the Southern army*

As Godfrey finished his letter, he gave it to his liege lord, so that he would put his house coat of arms there to show the other nobles that this letter is a legitimate order and not a forged one. The general then proceeded to pass along a copy of the letter to several trusted carriers, providing orders to deliver the correspondence to the designated recipients. The carriers, aware of the importance of the letter, set off on their respective journeys with the utmost haste, ensuring its safe delivery to the intended recipients. As they rode through the kingdom, they remained determined to fulfill their duty and contribute to the restoration of peace and justice in the realm, at least as they perceived it ,

One of the carriers was escorted by a small guard to the city of Potenza. The second carrier began its journey towards Benevento, guarded by a tiny garrison. While a third carrier was dispatched to Chieti.

In just five days, all four armies had united at Naples, and the combined force was led by General Bernard de Baux, who gave the order to march south. Since the revolution began on May 9th, the rebels had a seven-day head start,giving them time to prepare for the advance of the French armies. It was clear that the forces of the rebels would be significantly outnumbered by the joint armies of the French and that the outcome of the upcoming conflict would be heavily weighed in favor of the armies of the French crown, or so they thought at least. Little did they know that the rebels were more prepared for their arrival than they had expected. The rebels had strategically fortified their positions and devised clever tactics to counter the French armies. Additionally, they had garnered widespread support from the local population, which further bolstered their chances of success against the seemingly superior forces of the French crown.

On the 16th of May, General Bernardt de Baux led an army of 8,000 troops south. His army had 500 heavy cavalry, 4,000 armed soldiers, 800 archers, and 3,700 levy freemen. The general believed that this force would be sufficient against the rebels on the island, but he was disappointed to have only a fraction of the total number of heavy cavalry under his command, as King Charles had marched north with 3,000 knights, leaving Bernardt with even less than a quarter.

The French army marched 20 kilometers per day, a fast pace for a convoy of 8,000 men and supplies. The expected march time from Naples to Reggio was two weeks, taking into account the time needed to resupply and rest the soldier adequately. Since the French did not currently have a fleet large enough to carry the entire force to the island, it was clear that a direct route from Naples to Messina or Palermo was out of the question. Even if that were a possibility, it would be highly risky, without any guarantee of safely reaching the destination, as the sea was currently dominated by Genoese ships. Therefore, the French decided to take a longer route by land, marching from Naples to Reggio. This would ensure the safety of their soldiers and allow them to resupply along the way. Additionally, this decision also allowed the French to avoid any potential confrontations with the Genoese fleet, minimizing the risk of losing their troops at sea.

'It is regrettable that we do not have a fleet, for if we had not lost it near Genoa, in less than a week we would have probably disembarked on the isle. Instead, we have to march on land, doubling that number, taking time that could have been easily spent killing rebels and that we instead gave them to prepare, not that it would save them from our steel and arrows.' In a regretful tone, the general lamented, however,he was adamant that this delay would not spare the rebels from his forces as they were just delaying the inevitable.

The count arrogantly imagined that his campaign against the rebel forces would be an easy challenge, consisting of squashing peasants with little more than sticks. The general was confident that the rebels posed little challenge or threat to his well-armed force, and his overconfidence was evident in his rhetoric. However, as the general would soon come to find out, his opponent, Corrado, would prove to be a formidable foe, who had put all his energy into fortifying Cosenza and making it a formidable bastion. The general would eventually bear witness to whether Corrado's efforts would prove successful or not.

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Napoleone della Torre, the head of the Milanese republic, sat on a throne and waited as the messenger he had dispatched to deliver a letter returned from his voyage, having performed his mission. The message was given to the knight guarding the envoy , and Napoleone commanded his servant to give rest to the exhausted rider. The knight then approached the ruler of the republic and bowed before handing him the newly-handled letter.

As Napoleone took the letter, he began to read:

*To the gracious Podestà of the Milanese Republic, Napoleone della Torre

I have received your previous letter, and I was saddened upon knowing that the support you had sent me could not arrive, as it was stopped by that devil of Conrad. I swear that I will make him pay for the insult delivered to you, bringing justice in the Lord's name.

Having dealt with that, and regarding the formation of the league to fight against any other external threat, I am more than happy to join the league as requested by you, for I think that it is wonderful that the communes will join together against our common enemy, Conrad Hohestaufen. His actions have caused great harm and it is crucial that we unite to protect ourselves and seek retribution. By joining the league, we can ensure that Conrad faces the consequences of his treacherous deeds and prevent any further harm he may inflict upon us. Together, we will stand strong and bring justice to our land.

Finally, about your final request, looking back at the gift you had made but that I could regrettably not receive, I would have no problem thanking you for your support by gifting you the land of the communes that allied themselves with the excommunicated boy, under the obvious promise that I shall receive support, preferable in the form of gold, as it is money that I currently lack.

I understand the importance of reciprocating your support and acknowledging your generosity. In return for your assistance, I would be more than willing to grant you ownership of the land occupied by the excommunicated boy's allies. However, it is crucial that we establish a clear agreement regarding the type and amount of support I will receive in return, ensuring it aligns with my current needs and circumstances.

I would think that 170,000 gold would be more than enough to reward you with the city of Pavia, and if you manage to make it 350,000, I will even add Verona to the list as a token of friendship between us.

I hope that I will soon receive a response back from you, for I eagerly await that.

Signed King Charles I Rex Siciliae.*

The smile on Napoleone della Torre's face indicated his delight at the news he had received in the letter. The potential of acquiring the territories of Pavia and Verona through the planned pact definitely piqued the ruler of Milan's attention. The cost was high, but Napoleon felt it was worthwhile to expand his domain and strengthen his total influence and power. It was a deal he thought was worth every coin , and that it was a little price to pay for everything that extra territory and people would bring to his realm. Torre knew that acquiring Pavia and Verona would not only increase his wealth, but also solidify his control over Northern Italy. The strategic advantage of these territories would provide a strong defense against potential enemies and allow him to expand his influence further into the surrounding regions.

The land that the republic would acquire with the proposal would enable it to become a dominant force in the region, with Napoleone della Torre at the forefront of this power. With the support of the other podestà and rulers of the Italian communes, he had the opportunity and the resources to achieve his dream of making Milan into a princely state with his family at the helm. He was well-equipped to achieve this goal, and his allies would be key to its success. The promise of an expanded realm and increased power seemed to be within his grasp, and he was determined to seize this opportunity.

Was it finally time for the Della Torre family to achieve complete power in Milan and become its sole ruler? Napoleon did not currently know the answer, but he was aware that in recent times he had been far closer to that goal than he ever was or will ever be.